65-yr-old godman held for raping woman at MP ashram

A 65-year-old self-styled godman was arrested on charges of illegally confining a 24-year-old married woman at his ashram and raping her for over four months at a village here, police said today.

The case comes close on the heels of self-styled godman Asaram Bapu allegedly raping a 16-year-old girl.

Mahendra Giri alias Tunnu Baba was arrested yesterday after police raided his ashram at Neelkhand village in the district and rescued the woman.

The victim's husband and mother-in-law also lived in the ashram and they allegedly assisted Giri in the crime, police said, adding that both of them were also arrested.

The victim got married to Vishram Banjara on May three this year, and soon after Giri began sexually assaulting her.

A case has been registered against Giri under sections related to rape, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation of the Indian Penal Code, police added.